Dark current suppression of amorphous selenium based photosensors by the ZnO hole blocking layer

Tung-Yuan Yu,Fu-Ming Pan,Cheng-Yi Chang,Tien Hu,Jenn-Fang Chen,Jia-Feng Wang,Jia-Feng Wang,Cheng-Lu Lin,Te-Ming Chen 한국물리학회 2014 Current Applied Physics Vol.14 No.5

To study the influence of defects in the hole blocking layer (HBL) on the dark current of amorphous selenium (a-Se) based photosensors, we prepared ZnO thin films by reactive sputter deposition (RSD) for the use as the HBL of the photosensors. The ZnO HBL layers prepared with different oxygen flow rates were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman scattering analysis and photoluminescence, indicating that the density of oxygen vacancies in the ZnO thin films is significantly affected by the oxygen flow rate. The deep level transient spectroscopy measurement reveals two hole trap levels present in the RSD deposited ZnO thin films; one is at 0.94 eV and the other at 0.24 eV above the valence band edge. The electrical performance of the a-Se photosensor is largely influenced by the amount of oxygen vacancies in the ZnO thin film. The a-Se photosensor with the ZnO HBL of the most oxygen vacancies has the lowest dark current and demonstrates the highest breakdown field.

Genetic variations in the bitter taste receptor gene TAS2R38 are related to cigarette smoking behavior in Han Chinese smokers

Qi Fei-Yan,Zhu Zhou-Hai,Li Meng,Guan Ying,Peng Qi-Yuan,Lu She-Ming,Liu Zhi-Hua,Wang Ming-Feng,Miao Ming-Ming,Chen Zhang-Yu,Li Xue-Mei,Bai Jie,Yao Jian-Hua 한국유전학회 2022 Genes & Genomics Vol.44 No.11

Background: Smoking behavior is influenced by multiple genes, including the bitter taste gene TAS2R38. It has been reported that the correlation between TAS2R38 and smoking behavior has ethnicity-based differences. However, the TAS2R38 status in Chinese smokers is still unclear. Objective: This study aims to investigate the possible relationship between genetic variations in TAS2R38 (A49P, V262A and I296V) and smoking behaviors in the Han Chinese population. Methods: The haplotype analyses were performed and smoking behavior questionnaire was completed by 1271 individuals. Genetic association analyses for smoking behavior were analyzed using chi-square test. Further, for investigating the molecular mechanism of TAS2R38 variants effect on smoking behavior, we conducted TAS2R38-PAV and TAS2R38-AVI expression plasmids and tested the cellular calcium assay by cigarette smoke compounds stimulus in HEK293. Results: Significant associations of genetic variants within TAS2R38 were identified with smoking behavior. We found a higher PAV/PAV frequency than AVI/AVI in moderate and high nicotine dependence (FTND ≥ 4; X2 = 4.611, 1 df, p = 0.032) and strong cigarette smoke flavor intensity preference (X2 = 4.5383, 1 df, p = 0.033) in participants. Furthermore, in the in vitro cellular calcium assay, total particle matter (TPM), N-formylnornicotine and cotinine, existing in cigarette smoke, activated TAS2R38-PAV but not TAS2R38-AVI-transfected cells. Conclusion: Our data highlights that genetic variations in TAS2R38 are related to smoking behavior, especially nicotine dependence and cigarette smoke flavor intensity preference. Our findings may encourage further consideration of the taste process to identify individuals susceptible to nicotine dependence, particularly Han Chinese smokers.

Molecular Cloning and Expression of cDNA Encoding the Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitor from Upland Cotton

Ming-feng Jiang,Sheng-wei Li,Min Chen,Ying-fan Cai,Yong-fang Xie,Biao Li,Quan Sun,Huai-zhong Jiang,Zheng Pan,Yun-ling Gao,You-Lu Yuan,Yu-zheng Shi 한국식물학회 2009 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.52 No.5

A cDNA encoding a novel cysteine proteinase inhibitor (CPI) was isolated from a gland mutant Xiangmian-18 of upland cotton during the pigments gland forming stage. The cDNA comprises 378 bp and encodes 125 amino acid residues with molecular mass of 13.8 kDa. It contains the conserved motif of cysteine protease inhibitors and belongs to the cystatin superfamily (Gln- Val-Val-Ala-Gly). The deduced amino acid sequences of the domains are highly similar to the normal upland cotton (96.8%). SDS-PAGE and western hybridization analysis showed that the expressed recombinant protein was recombinant CPI. The inhibitory activity of recombinant CPI was 46 u/μg which was measured by inhibiting the protease activity of papain. RT-PCR results indicated that the expression level of developing gland stage was higher than that of undeveloped gland stage.

Port-Site Metastases and Chimney Effect of B-Ultrasound-Guided and Laparoscopically-Assisted Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Perfusion Chemotherapy

Ming-Chen Ba,Hui Long,Xiang-Liang Zhang,Yuan-Feng Gong,Zhao-Fei Yan,Shuai Wang,Yun-Qiang Tang,Shu-Zhong Cui 연세대학교의과대학 2017 Yonsei medical journal Vol.58 No.3

Purpose: CO2 leakage along the trocar (chimney effect) has been proposed to be an important factor underlying port-site metastasisafter laparoscopic surgery. This study aimed to test this hypothesis by comparing the incidence of port-site metastasis betweenB-ultrasound-guided and laparoscopically-assisted hyperthermic intraperitoneal perfusion chemotherapy (HIPPC). Materials and Methods: Sixty-two patients with malignant ascites induced by gastrointestinal or ovarian cancer were divided into two groups to receive either B-ultrasound-guided or laparoscopically-assisted HIPPC. Clinical efficacy was assessed from the objective remission rate (ORR), the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score, and overall survival. The incidence of port-site metastasis was compared between the two groups. Results: Patients in the B-ultrasound (n=32) and laparoscopy (n=30) groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, primary diseasetype, volume of ascites, and free cancer cell (FCC)-positive ascites. After HIPPC, there were no significant differences between the B-ultrasound and laparoscopy groups in the KPS score change, ORR, and median survival time. The incidence of port-site metastasis after HIPPC was not significantly different between the B-ultrasound (3 of 32, 9.36%) and laparoscopy (3 of 30, 10%) groups, but significantly different among pancreatic, gastric, ovarian, and colorectal cancer (33.33, 15.79, 10.00, and 0.00%, p<0.001). Conclusion: The chimney effect may not be the key reason for port-site metastasis after laparoscopy. Other factors may play a role, including the local microenvironment at the trocar site and the delivery of viable FCCs (from the tumor or malignant ascites) to the trauma site during laparoscopic surgery.

Efficacy and Safety of 12 Weeks of Daclatasvir, Asunaprevir Plus Ribavirin for the Treatment of HCV Genotype 1b Infection without Baseline NS5A Resistance-Associated Variants (DARING)-Interim Report

( Ming-lung Yu ),( Chao-hung Hung ),( Yi-hsiang Huang ),( Cheng-yuan Peng ),( Chun-yen Lin ),( Pin-nan Cheng ),( Rong-nan Chien ),( Shih-jer Hsu ),( Chen-hua Liu ),( Jee-fu Huang ),( Chung-feng Huang 대한간학회 2018 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2018 No.1

Aims: The current study aims to elucidate the treatment efficacy (defined as undetectable HCV RNA throughout 12 weeks of post-treatment follow-up, SVR12) and safety DCV/ASV plus ribavirin for 12 weeks in HCV-1b patients without NS5A RAS. Methods: This is a single-arm, open-label phase 2 study. Seventy directly acting antivirals (DAA)-naïve HCV-1b patients without L31/Y93 RAS are planned to receive daclatasvir (60 mg/ day) and asunaprevir (100 mg twice daily) plus weight-based ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/day) for 12 weeks. After treatment they were followed up for 12 weeks. Results: As of 31 Oct 2017, 58 eligible patients are allocated to treatment, with a mean age of 59.3 years and female predominance (67.2%, 39/58). The mean HCV RNA was 5.87+0.77 log10 IU/mL; 23 patients (39.7 %) had significant hepatic fibrosis (>F2). In the modified intention-to-treat analysis, the rate of undetectable HCV at week 1, week 2, week 4, week 8 and endof- treatment was 25 % (14/56), 84.8 % (39/46), 100 % (46/46), 100 % (38/38) and 100 % (27/27), respectively. Undetectable HCV RNA were observed in all of the patients with HCV RNA assessable 4 weeks (SVR4, 18/18) and 12 weeks (SVR12, 12/12) post treatment. None of the 18 patients who completed the 12-week treatment experienced relapse during post-treatment follow-up. The most common adverse event was fatigue (78.3 %), followed by pruritus (65.2 %) and dizziness (52.2 %), of which were considered as ribavirin related. None of the participating subjects withdrew treatment or follow-up throughout the trial peroid. Three serious adverse events were reported which included urosepsis, appendicitis and left ureteral stone. All were unrelated to the investigating drugs. Conclusions: 12 weeks of DCV/ASV plus ribavirin was highly effective and safe in HCV-1b patients without NS5A RAS in the interim analysis. The satisfactory results would be anticipated in the full patient set.

Off-Road Machinery Systms Engineering : Development of a Prototype of Guidance System for Rice-transplanter

( Fang Ming Zhang ),( Beom Soo Shin ),( Xi Ming Feng ),( Yuan Li ),( Ri Jiang Shou ) 한국농업기계학회 2013 바이오시스템공학 Vol.38 No.4

Purpose: It is not easy to drive a rice-transplanter avoiding underlapped or overlapped transplanting in paddy fields. An automated guidance system for the riding-type rice-transplanter would be necessary to operate the rice-transplanter autonomously or to assist the beginning drivers as a driving aid. Methods: A prototype of guidance system was composed of embedded computers, RTK-GPS, and a power-steering mechanism. Two Kalman filters were adopted to overcome sparse positioning data (1 Hz) from the RTK-GPS. A global Kalman filter estimated the posture of rice-transplanter every one second, and a local Kalman filter calculated the posture from every new estimation of the global Kalman filter with an interval of 200 ms. A PID controller was applied to the row-following mode control. A control method of U-turning mode was developed as well. A stepping motor with a reduction gear set was used to rotate the shaft of steering wheel. Results:Test trials for U-turning and row-following modes were done in a paddy field after some parameters have been tuned at the ground speed range of 0.3 ~ 1.2 m/s. The minimum RMS error of offset was 3.13 cm at the ground speed of 0.3 m/s while the maximum RMS error was 13.01 cm at 1.2 m/s. The offset RMS error tended to increase as the ground speed increased. The target point distance, LT also affected the system performance and PID controller parameters should be adjusted on different ground speeds. Conclusions: A target angle-based PID controller plus stationary steering angle controller made it possible for the rice-transplanter to steer autonomously by following a reference line accurately and even on U-turning mode. However, as condition in paddy fields is very complicated, the system should control the ground speed that prevents it from deviating too much due to ditch and slope.

Raman Spectral Band Oscillations in Large Graphene Bubbles

Huang, Yuan,Wang, Xiao,Zhang, Xu,Chen, Xianjue,Li, Baowen,Wang, Bin,Huang, Ming,Zhu, Chongyang,Zhang, Xuewei,Bacsa, Wolfgang S.,Ding, Feng,Ruoff, Rodney S. American Physical Society 2018 Physical Review Letters Vol.120 No.18

<P>Raman spectra of large graphene bubbles showed size-dependent oscillations in spectral intensity and frequency, which originate from optical standing waves formed in the vicinity of the graphene surface. At a high laser power, local heating can lead to oscillations in the Raman frequency and also create a temperature gradient in the bubble. Based on Raman data, the temperature distribution within the graphene bubble was calculated, and it is shown that the heating effect of the laser is reduced when moving from the center of a bubble to its edge. By studying graphene bubbles, both the thermal conductivity and chemical reactivity of graphene were assessed. When exposed to hydrogen plasma, areas with bubbles are found to be more reactive than flat graphene.</P>

Association Between C1019T Polymorphism in the Connexin 37 Gene and Helicobacter Pylori Infection in Patients with Gastric Cancer

Jing, Yuan-Ming,Guo, Su-Xia,Zhang, Xiao-Ping,Sun, Ai-Jing,Tao, Feng,Qian, Hai-Xin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.5

Objective: To investigate the association between the connexin 37 C1019T polymorphism and Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with gastric cancer. Methods: 388 patients with gastric cancer (GC), 204 with chronic superficial gastritis (CSG) were studied. H. pylori was detected by gastric mucosal biopsies biopsy dyeing method. Connexin 37 gene polymorphism 1019 site genotypes were determined by gene sequencing technology. Genotypes and alleles frequencies were compared. Results: (1) Connexin37 gene 1019 site distribution frequency (CC type, TC type, TT type) in the CSG group was 18.1%, 45.1% and 36.8%; in the stomach cancer group it was 35.1%, 45.9% and 19.%, conforming to the Hardy-Weinberg euilibrium. (2) In comparison with CSG group, the frequency of Connexin37 C allele was higher in the gastric cancer group (58.0% vs 40.7%, OR = 2.01, 95%CI = 1.58-2.57, P < 0.01). The prevalence of gastric cancer risk was significantly increased in the carriers of C allele (CC+TC) than in TT homozygote (OR = 2.47, 5%CI = 1.68- 3.610. (3) Gastric cancer patients complicated with Hp infection 211 cases, gastric cancer group of the male patients with HP positive patients with 187 cases, 40 cases of female patients with negative patients, 24 cases were HP positive, negative in 137 cases, control group male patients, 28 cases were Hp positive, negative in 95 patients, female patients with Hp positive 6 cases, 75 cases were negative. On hierarchical analysis, the male group OR value was 15.9 (95%CI to 9.22-27.3), and the female OR was 2.19 (95%CI 0.88-5.59), indicating a greater contribution in males (P <0.01). After elimination of gender effects, positive HP and gastric cancer were closely related (OR 8.82, 95% CI: 5.45-14.3). (4) The distribution frequency of C allele in patients with Hp infection was much higher than that in Hp negative cases in the GC group (64.5% vs 47.0%, OR = 2.05, 95%CI = 1.54-2.74, P < 0.01). Compared with TT homozygotes, (CC+TC) genotype prevalence of gastric cancer risk increased significantly (OR = 2.96, 5%CI = 1.76-2.99 ). Conclusion: The T allele in the connexin37 gene might not only be associated with gastric cancer but also with H. pylori infection.

Highly Oriented Monolayer Graphene Grown on a Cu/Ni(111) Alloy Foil

Huang, Ming,Biswal, Mandakini,Park, Hyo Ju,Jin, Sunghwan,Qu, Deshun,Hong, Seokmo,Zhu, Zhili,Qiu, Lu,Luo, Da,Liu, Xiaochi,Yang, Zheng,Liu, Zhongliu,Huang, Yuan,Lim, Hyunseob,Yoo, Won Jong,Ding, Feng,Wa American Chemical Society 2018 ACS NANO Vol.12 No.6

<P>Fast-growth of single crystal monolayer graphene by CVD using methane and hydrogen has been achieved on “homemade” single crystal Cu/Ni(111) alloy foils over large area. Full coverage was achieved in 5 min or less for a particular range of composition (1.3 at.% to 8.6 at.% Ni), as compared to 60 min for a pure Cu(111) foil under identical growth conditions. These are the bulk atomic percentages of Ni, as a superstructure at the surface of these foils with stoichiometry Cu<SUB>6</SUB>Ni<SUB>1</SUB> (for 1.3 to 7.8 bulk at.% Ni in the Cu/Ni(111) foil) was discovered by low energy electron diffraction (LEED). Complete large area monolayer graphene films are either single crystal or close to single crystal, and include folded regions that are essentially parallel and that were likely wrinkles that “fell over” to bind to the surface; these folds are separated by large, wrinkle-free regions. The folds occur due to the buildup of interfacial compressive stress (and its release) during cooling of the foils from 1075 °C to room temperature. The fold heights measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) prove them to all be 3 layers thick, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging shows them to be around 10 to 300 nm wide and separated by roughly 20 μm. These folds are always essentially perpendicular to the steps in this Cu/Ni(111) substrate. Joining of well-aligned graphene islands (in growths that were terminated prior to full film coverage) was investigated with high magnification SEM and aberration-corrected high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as well as AFM, STM, and optical microscopy. These methods show that many of the “join regions” have folds, and these arise from interfacial adhesion mechanics (they are due to the buildup of compressive stress during cool-down, but these folds are different than for the continuous graphene films-they occur due to “weak links” in terms of the interface mechanics). Such Cu/Ni(111) alloy foils are promising substrates for the large-scale synthesis of single-crystal graphene film.</P> [FIG OMISSION]</BR>

Development of an automated guidance system for rice transplanter1

( Fang-ming Zhang ),( Xi-ming Feng ),( Yuan Li ),( Beom-soo Shin ),( Ru-jiang Shou ) 한국농업기계학회 2012 한국농업기계학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.17 No.1

An automated guidance system was developed on a rice transplanter. A distributed embedded computer system, one ECC and 5 ECUs, was constructed. Two Kalman filters were formed. The 1^st one, named as global Kalman filter, integrated data of a RTK-GPS, a strapdown attitude sensor, and two encoders. The 2^nd one, named as local Kalman filter, integrated data of a strapdown attitude sensor and two encoders. A PID controller was applied to row following control, whose offset RMS could less than 4 cm at speed of 1.2 m/s. A U-turn controller was also designed that it could control the transplanter in a go-turn-back mode.